n. - (often attrib.) Chequered or tartan, esp. Woollen, twilled cloth (plaid skirt).
- long piece of this worn over the shoulder in highland scottish costume. [gaelic]
PLAIN
chocolate n. Dark chocolate without added milk.
- clothes n.pl. Ordinary clothes, not uniform (plain-clothes police).
- dealing n. Candour; straightforwardness.
- flour n. Flour containing no raising agent.
- sailing n. Uncomplicated situation or course of action.
- —adj. - clear, evident.
- readily understood, simple.
- (of food, decoration, etc.) Simple.
- not beautiful or distinguished-looking.
- outspoken; straightforward.
- unsophisticated; not luxurious (a plain man; plain living). —adv. - clearly.
- simply. —n. - level tract of country.
- basic knitting stitch. plainly adv. Plainness n. [latin planus]
PLAIT
—n. Length of hair, straw, etc., in three or more interlaced strands. —v. - weave (hair etc.) Into a plait.
- make by interlacing strands (plaited belt). [french pleit from latin plico fold]
PLANE
—n. - flat surface such that a straight line joining any two points on it lies wholly in it.
- level surface.
- colloq. = *aeroplane.
- flat surface producing lift by the action of air or water over and under it (usu. In comb.: hydroplane).
- (often foll. By of) level of attainment, knowledge, etc. —adj. - (of a surface etc.) Perfectly level.
- (of an angle, figure, etc.) Lying in a plane. —v. (-ning) glide. [latin planus *plain]
- —n. Tool for smoothing a usu. Wooden surface by paring shavings from it. —v. (-ning) 1 smooth with a plane.
- (often foll. By away, down) pare with a plane. [latin: related to *plane1]
- n. Tall tree with maple-like leaves and bark which peels in uneven patches. [greek platanos]
PLANK
—n. - long flat piece of timber.
- item in a political or other programme. —v. - provide or cover with planks.
- (usu. Foll. By down) colloq. A put down or deposit roughly or violently. B pay (money) on the spot. walk the plank hist. Be made to walk blindfold along a plank over the side of a ship to one's death in the sea. [latin planca]
PLANT
—n. - a organism usu. Containing chlorophyll enabling it to live wholly on inorganic substances, and lacking the power of voluntary movement. B small organism of this kind, as distinguished from a shrub or tree.
- a machinery, fixtures, etc., used in industry. B factory.
- colloq. Something deliberately placed so as to incriminate another. —v. - place (seeds, plants, etc.) In soil for growing.
- (often foll. By in, on, etc.) Put or fix in position.
- (often refl.) Station (a person etc.), esp. As a spy.
- cause (an idea etc.) To be established, esp. In another person's mind.
- deliver (a blow, kiss, etc.) With a deliberate aim.
- colloq. Place (something incriminating) for later discovery. plant out transfer from a pot or frame to the open ground; set out (seedlings) at intervals. plantlike adj. [latin planta]
PLATE
glass n. Thick fine-quality glass for shop windows etc.
- tectonics n.pl. (usu. Treated as sing.) The study of the earth's surface based on the concept of moving ‘plates’ (see sense 11 of *plate) forming its structure.
- —n. - a shallow usu. Circular vessel from which food is eaten or served. B contents of this.
- similar vessel used for a collection in church etc.
- (collect.) A utensils of silver, gold, or other metal. B objects of plated metal.
- piece of metal with a name or inscription for affixing to a door etc.
- illustration on special paper in a book.
- thin sheet of metal, glass, etc., coated with a sensitive film for photography.
- flat thin usu. Rigid sheet of metal etc., often as part of a mechanism.
- a smooth piece of metal etc. For engraving. B impression from this.
- a silver or gold cup as a prize for a horse-race etc. B race with this as a prize. 10 a thin piece of plastic material, moulded to the shape of the mouth, on which artificial teeth are mounted. B colloq. Denture. 11 each of several rigid sheets of rock thought to form the earth's outer crust. 12 thin flat organic structure or formation. —v. (-ting) 1 apply a thin coat esp. Of silver, gold, or tin to (another metal).
- cover (esp. A ship) with plates of metal, for protection. on a plate colloq. Available with little trouble to the recipient. On one's plate colloq. For one to deal with. plateful n. (pl. -s). [latin platta from plattus flat]
PLEAD
v. - (foll. By with) make an earnest appeal to.
- (of an advocate) address a lawcourt.
- maintain (a cause) in a lawcourt.
- (foll. By guilty or not guilty) declare oneself to be guilty or not guilty of a charge.
- allege as an excuse (plead insanity).
- (often as pleading adj.) Make an appeal or entreaty (in a pleading voice). [anglo-french pleder: related to *plea]
PLEAT
—n. Fold or crease, esp. A flattened fold in cloth doubled upon itself. —v. Make a pleat or pleats in. [from *plait]
PLONK
—v. - set down hurriedly or clumsily.
- (usu. Foll. By down) set down firmly. —n. Heavy thud. [imitative]
- n. Colloq. Cheap or inferior wine. [origin unknown]
